Planting from vegetative material - cgiar

Forage seeds must be thoroughly dry before going into
storage. Once in storage they must be protected from
regaining moisture from the air. This is especially
important for grass seeds (which are soft and absorb
moisture easily) and for legume seeds which have been
scarified so moisture can enter the seed easily. In humid
conditions, this seed will quickly absorb moisture from the
atmosphere and will die in as little as three months.
Careful attention must be given to packaging of dry seed
to prevent it from absorbing moisture from the air. Thick,
well sealed plastic bags or tins with air-tight lids provide a
long-term practical solution, especially for small seed lots.
Storing seed in a cool place, such as an air-conditioned
room or a refrigerator, can more than double the storage
life of seed. However, the relative humidity in air-conditioned
rooms and refrigerators can be high and seed will absorb
moisture quickly unless sealed to keep it dry.
Keep seed dry and cool!
How can I check the quality of my seed?
The following two diagrams show how you can check the
quality of your grass or legume seed. Two techniques you
will need to learn to be able to check the quality of your
seed are an emergence test, and ways of breaking the
hard seed coat of some legumes. These techniques are
described on pages 58 and 59.
Seal dry seeds in thick plastic bags. [WS]
Take Note
55